'Luckiest player in Ireland' makes contact to claim record-breaking €19m lotto jackpot

Laura Scrineyowner of Laura’s XL store in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, which sold the winning ticket celebrates outside the shop with family and staff. Picture: Mac Innes Photography

The winner of last Saturday’s record-breaking €19.06m lotto jackpot has made contact with Lotto officials to begin the process of claiming their winnings.

The winning quick-pick ticket was sold at Laura’s XL on Hopkin’s Road in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Shop owner Laura Scriney spoke this morning of the excitement she felt on receiving the news the ticket had been won in her shop.

"The entire county really has been buzzing with chatter about the Lotto jackpot since the weekend with everyone wondering where exactly the winning ticket was sold. 

"When I heard that our store was the lucky location, I was in a complete state of shock," she said.

"I knew that it was a Castlebar shop but finding out was completely overwhelming!"

Ms Scriney said she had only been in business since 2019.

"Saturday night was such a huge draw and one that’s been the talk of the town for the week now so we are absolutely over the moon to have played a part in this. 

"The winner truly is the luckiest player in Ireland now and we wish them all the very best with their win."

Ms Scriney reflected on what has been a bittersweet week. Just before selling the elusive winning ticket, she lost her beloved grandmother.

“Recent days have been such a mixture of emotions”, she said.

“On this day last week, “Granny Scriney (95) was in the funeral home. Today it’s a totally different story”.

She confessed to “not having a clue” who had bought the winning ticket for Irish Lotto’s largest-ever jackpot.

She reckons the winning ticket must have been purchased on either Friday or Saturday as her premises, known as Laura’s XL Convenience Store, was closed on Wednesday and Thursday owing to the family bereavement.

It’s possible, but certainly not definite, that a local Castlebar person or syndicate hit the Jackpot bullseye.

Laura explained: “We get customers from all over as Castlebar is such a popular shopping town. The winner could be from Bangor Erris, Claremorris or Ballinrobe, anywhere.

“I have my regulars but there’s plenty coming from further afield. Whoever won, I wish them the best of luck”.

Ms Scriney, who opened her store at Hopkins Road, near Castlebar Town Centre, in September 2019, has enjoyed significant luck Lotto wise since.

Two months after she opened a customer won a sizeable amount on Winning Streak. Last July, the shop sold a winning Telly Bingo ticket worth €60,000.

Ms Scriney stands personally to gain €15,000.

She hasn’t decided what to do with her windfall.

“It (the money) will be very welcome”, she grinned. “It’s been a difficult two years”.

One Mayo punter became the winner of the largest-ever in the history of the game after matching six numbers in the January 15 draw.

The game's ‘Will be Won’ mechanism, introduced ahead of last weekend’s monumental draw, was therefore not required on Saturday night due to the player having matched all numbers.  

The mechanism had been introduced to ensure a winner, following an unprecedented period of 62 draws without an overall winner.

Under new rules, future Lotto jackpots can remain capped for a maximum of five draws.

If the fifth draw does not produce a winner, the entire top prize will flow down to the next winning prize tier.

Last weekend's winning numbers were 2, 9, 16, 30, 37, and 4 0. The bonus number was 23.

A further 149 players also took home €36,687 each after matching five numbers and the bonus number.